With smartphones, tablets and laptops, employees have more devices to stay connected to the office than they have hands. While this flexibility is convenient for employees, it poses unprecedented challenges for IT departments. Fortunately, when implemented effectively, a customized enterprise mobility management (EMM) solution can ease IT concerns while also offering opportunities to increase employee satisfaction, retention and revenues.
How can you determine which enterprise mobility management solution is best for your organization? I recommend three important elements that every organization should consider: flexibility, security and productivity.
Flexible Customization
With any new product or service, there’s going to be a learning curve, and transitioning to a new EMM solution is no exception. The right provider should be flexible and capable of customizing the solution to your needs. They should also be committed to your organization for the long haul, forecasting future needs and offering ongoing support.
Think of the purchase of an EMM solution as the start of a relationship, and find a provider who shares that value. Providers who are committed to your long-term success will offer easy access to technical expertise and support through multiple channels during business hours, as well as access to training to keep the transition and day-to-day operations running seamlessly.
Also, keep in mind that some products on the market will be more intuitive than others. Look for a single management console to manage your devices, users, groups, apps and services including reporting and dashboard capabilities that will help users throughout the organization adapt to the new EMM.
Optimal Security
Security is another essential element of EMM – no matter your industry. Organizations with company-wide bring your own device (BYOD) policies need the ability to securely and effectively manage different devices across multiple operating systems. Bake in security consideration from the onset of EMM planning. A clear and well-defined security strategy will minimize problems down the road for audits, user support and on-boarding.
It’s also important to remember that EMM isn’t just an issue for the IT department to decide. There are stakeholders throughout your organization who should be consulted, like human resources and legal departments, to ensure that the policies are acceptable to employees and meet requirements for data security and compliance mandates.
Within EMM solutions you’ll find varying levels of service, so be sure to find the one that’s customized to your requirements. Small- and medium-sized businesses, for example, that don’t need locked-down devices might only need a basic level of EMM; while governments or companies in highly regulated industries like finance, would want a scaled up EMM solution to adhere to corporate policies or industry guidelines.
Enhanced Employee Productivity
Beyond the technical requirements of EMM solutions, the user experience is also a key consideration. EMM should make it easy and intuitive for users to stay connected to the programs, apps and data they need to do their jobs across multiple devices. The ability to receive updates to devices remotely is another great feature that keeps employees in the field and maximizing productivity.
Implementing the appropriate EMM solution produces cost savings for your organization in multiple ways. A secure, behind the firewall connection eliminates the need for a separate VPN solution, and single server deployment enables all previous components to run on the same physical or virtual server. Over-the-air activation also gives IT departments the control they need without disrupting employees’ work day.
With flexibility, security and productivity driving the EMM strategy, organizations should be able to make a smooth transition to a solution that keeps everyone connected and critical corporate information flowing.
